If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Just go to the MVD & SM section and have a good read. Don't want to put you of buying a Cavalier but would like to make double sure you are going to get a puppy from a Proper health testing breeder. (Just been reading your other post about finding a breeder) even if you have to wait a while ( what most people don't want and they get fed up waiting) for a puppy reading the SM & MVD section hopefully will convince you to wait if you have to.

I have got 3 Cavaliers one has SM , MVD, Luxating Patella and degenerated discs. My other one has SM.

We could have a poll but it would not mean a lot as it would all depend on who is around to read the thread and whether they wanted to post about their SM dogs.

If you are trying to get an idea as to how widespread this is in the breed take a look at Rod Russell's website http://www.cavalierhealth.org/syringomyelia.htm
You will see that in a June 2011 study of 555 cavaliers without any symptoms of syringomyelia, 25% of the one year old dogs had SM and 70% of the dogs aged 6 years and older had SM.

Margaret C

Cavaliers......Faith, The Ginger Tank and Woody.
Japanese Chins.... Dandy, Benny, Bridgette and Hana.
Remembered with love......... Tommy Tuppence and Fonzi

Can I just say something here? I sympathize greatly w/ all of those on the forum that have Cavaliers w/ health problems.
But ( and I may be wrong).. I think what you really want to know SILKI is buying a Cavalier pup worth all the health risks??
Just my humble opinion ( and I would hope most of us on here would say as well ) the answer is ...> yes.
We love this breed or we wouldn't be here talking about it. As much as the statistics state...there are always be exception. A diagnosis of MVD is not necessarily a death sentence. ( I have Mitral valve prolapse myself!!)
Many dogs live long lives w/ a heart murmur and many do not need medication.
As far as SM....I am no expert. But I know w/ anything..there are various degrees of severity. Some Cav's. may have mild cases all their lives....some not.
AND....and I may get shot down for saying this...but whether you spend a TON of money on what you "think" is a reputable breeder..there are still "no" guarantees. Get Pet insurance..or put $ away just to be wise ( in case you DO run into health problems). I would say that about ANY breed though.
Don't dwell on the negatives my theory. You search your heart. Do you want a Cavalier? Then buy a cavalier.
You won't regret a minute of it .
These little bundles of fur have fantastic temperments. Their personalities are so unbelieveably sweet you will fall in love immediately.
We have owned many dogs throughout the years. Various breeds. Sadly..almost all have passed away from cancer.
As heartbreaking as it is to lose a pet we love...has that deterred me from wanting to own another dog?..not at all.
We LOVE the time we have w/ them. It is no different than us as humans. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow.
I guess I am saying...we deal w/ risks no matter what.
Ok..that's my 2 cents worth. ~ hugs~

The poll isn't going to be very accurate - I have 2 dogs with SM but wasn't allowed to vote twice!

No dog of any breed or none comes with a health or lifetime guarantee. You can get a tough mongrel who has enough terrier in it to dig under the fence and get run over. Many breeds die younger than they should of cancer - just like many humans. You can only do your best to minimise the risks you know about - health checks for Cavaliers, and wire netting sunk into the ground below the fence for that mongrel terrier!

The poll isn't going to be very accurate - I have 2 dogs with SM but wasn't allowed to vote twice!

No dog of any breed or none comes with a health or lifetime guarantee. You can get a tough mongrel who has enough terrier in it to dig under the fence and get run over. Many breeds die younger than they should of cancer - just like many humans. You can only do your best to minimise the risks you know about - health checks for Cavaliers, and wire netting sunk into the ground below the fence for that mongrel terrier!

I also think the results could be skewed depending on the dog's age. Sonny currently hasn't been diagnosed with SM, but he is only 1. I truly hope he never faces this devastating disease, but the odds are not in his favor.

With that being said, I wouldn't trade Sonny for any other dog. He is the sweetest, smartest, funniest, most loyal dog ever! I recommend getting health insurance if you do get a Cavalier or any dog for that matter that way you can be prepared to take care of your furry friend no matter what comes up.

I also think the results could be skewed depending on the dog's age. Sonny currently hasn't been diagnosed with SM, but he is only 1. I truly hope he never faces this devastating disease, but the odds are not in his favor.

With that being said, I wouldn't trade Sonny for any other dog. He is the sweetest, smartest, funniest, most loyal dog ever! I recommend getting health insurance if you do get a Cavalier or any dog for that matter that way you can be prepared to take care of your furry friend no matter what comes up.

When I first joined CT I was awaiting a cavalier puppy from what I thought was a good breeder......she did MVD, heart test with a specialist, eyes, dips etc....her breeding stock. She allowed me to come to her home to meet her and dogs. She really did home raise these cavaliers and yes they are part of her family and she loves them dearly. In fact, I like her so much I still chat with her all the time. However, I joined here and was introduced to SM, breeding protocols set up by true professionals backed by real science and of I met a few owners dealing with an effected beloved dog. I was scared to death. It turned out great for me, my adopting from one of "my" breeders puppies fell thur......long story but the breeder ended up keeping the only girl from the litter. Anyway she gave me to option of getting my deposit back or waiting until another litter. I opted for my deposit back....at the time I just wanted to learn as much as I could about cavalier health problems.

Then I called "my" breeder and had a very polite but very frank conservation with her. She insisted none of her dogs (that she knew of) had SM. I gave her the science that there was know what that was true. I also asked her if she bred her dogs before 2.5 years old, she admitted she wished she could do more to ensure the health of her breeding stock....I was very grateful for her honesty. She told me then what I already knew, breed standards, temperament and making breeding dogs profitable were her goals. I was not angry with her and since then she no longer states her lines are "SM free" she is also slowly having her older breeding (over 2.5 yrs) scanned, I hope that's true.

So using the MVD and SM breeding protocols, I continued my search for a breeder....there are VERY few in the US but they are there.....I have found 4 in the US. I think breeders doing anything else are a BIG BIG part of this breeds problems. I will not cannot give my money to them PERIOD!! I then turned to rescue groups, either way I wanted a cavalier risks and all. I contacted "no kill" shelters all over the eastern US. If I purchase a puppy yes I will insist on one bred to protocols PERIOD but there are cavaliers out there that need forever homes today. I ended up getting a puppy for a shelter in a few states away. I was EXTREMELY lucky to get a puppy born at the shelter. We believe my Fletcher's half dead pregnant mother was left in the middle of the night at the shelter (its in Amish puppy area). I do not know anything about the health of Fletcher's mother other than she was about 3 and did not have a heart murmur yet. They believe she had been bred several times already. At first they were not sure the puppies where completely cavalier. I knew the risks, bought a good insurance policy and am preying he remains healths as long as possible. For me, so far its worth the risk, however I may one day change my mind. PLUS my adoption fee helps this group save more dogs....not product more very possibly unhealthy dogs.

I think maybe SILKI is just in love with cavaliers, and that's great HOWEVER I do not think he completely understand the danger cavalier's face....if major changes are not done with the breeding practices of cavalier there will BE no more cavaliers in the world....and that's not 100 years from now. ALL cavaliers will suffer from SM and MVD at younger ages....this is a very real problem. I personally believe all cavalier owners should be cavalier advocates. Again just my opinion.

SIKLI- do more research a lot more research..... go to youtube and watch videos of cavalier's suffering from SM its real and DOES effect every line of cavalier's known to man today.

If you choose, go for a rescue however, leaving cavalier home alone all day won't do, maybe you need to rethink this whole thing.

Just to say I used to greatly sympathize with all the Cavalier Owners on here with SM affected dogs and NO I wouldn’t trade my three for anything. Would I have another Cavalier? I don’t think I could stand the heartache looking at my dog every day thinking are these signs of SM are they getting worse. Yes I used to sympathize but I had no idea how it changes your life. If I can’t find anybody to be there to give tablets at the right time I have to be home to give these tablets I can’t just say what the hell I am out I come back when it suits me . I have to be up between 4 and 5 am to give Ebony’s first tablet. When the air pressure goes up and down I am up all night with Ebony as she won’t settle. Yes my dogs have still got a very good quality of life and I have good pet insurance. But no way would I ever put money into a pocket of a none testing Breeder. This Breed deserves so much better.